A Vancouver, Washington-based nonprofit has given Kansas a grade of “C” for its legislation addressing domestic child sex trafficking.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1N3nxoW ) that Shared Hope International’s rating places Kansas 29th in the country.
The state Legislature passed a package of bills to protect and support victims in 2013. Deputy Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office Jennifer Rapp says it also increased penalties for traffickers and buyers.
Rapp says the Legislature passed a bill this year allowing victims of human trafficking to seek restitution from convicted traffickers.
In October, seven Topeka residents were indicted on allegations of running an interstate sex trafficking ring that included recruitment of a minor, and the Wichita area reported 44 cases of human trafficking. Wichita had 29 total cases last year.
